Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will visit Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua on Monday amid claims of a plot to persuade him to back Edwin Sifuna’s presidential bid.
DCP deputy leader Cleophas Malala on Sunday claimed Gachagua and DCP have settled on Sifuna and the meeting is meant to pursuade him to back the Nairobi senator.
The planned meeting comes as political manoeuvres intensify within the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election, with competing camps pushing for a united presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service at the Anglican Church of Kenya, Ithare-Ini in Kirinyaga county, the Wiper leader said his visit to Wamunyoro, Gachagua’s residence, should be seen as ongoing consultation and not what is being claimed by some quarters.
“Tomorrow (Monday) we will go to Wamunyoro, it is not a big deal as being portrayed outside there by some people,” Kalonzo said.
Gachagua's allies have raised claims of a plot to convince Kalonzo to shelve his State House ambitions and rally behind Sifuna, who has emerged, as a key figure in the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Malala on Sunday claimed the party will meet Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Monday for coalition talks.
He said DCP will use the meeting persuade Kalonzo to support Sifuna’s 2027 presidential bid.
Malala said the party had settled on Sifuna as a suitable candidate to represent the opposition in the race against President William Ruto, adding that the party was reaching out to other opposition leaders to build consensus around his candidacy.
“You have seen DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua meet Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna the other day. They are united.
“We have said we also want to talk to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. We want him to support Sifuna.”
He added: “On Monday, we are going to meet Kalonzo. In DCP, we have agreed Sifuna is up to the task.”
Malala’s remarks signal DCP’s intention to push Sifuna’s candidacy as discussions continue among opposition figures seeking to consolidate their political support ahead of the polls.
The sentiment follows a meeting between Gachagua and Sifuna at the former DP’s Wamunyoro rural residence in Nyeri county on Tuesday, shortly after Gachagua returned to Kenya from the United States.
The leaders discussed political cooperation and possible joint rallies as opposition figures explore ways to coordinate their campaigns.
Speaking during the thanksgiving service, Kalonzo said the visit is part of the ongoing consultation insisting that the opposition must unite behind one candidate if they have to send Ruto home.
“We have reached a very delicate period. I will talk to all leaders because I know the importance of being united as opposition,” he said.
He was accompanied by Justin Muturi (Democratic Party), Wiper chairman Jamleck Kamau, Kitui senator Enoch Wambua and Machakos counterpart Agnes Kavindu.
In apparent reference to Malala, Kitui senator Enoch Wambua urged Kalonzo to ignore distractors and remained focused to his 2027 goal.
“You don’t have to throw stones at every barking dog, there are so many of them on the road. We know where we are going and God is with us,” Wambua said.
DP) deputy leader Jane Wanjiru faulted Malala of making insensitive remarks, saying he is neither the DCP or Linda Mwananchi spokesperson.
“The person pushing the propaganda is the DCP deputy party leader. I want to tell Malala that he is not the spokesperson of DCP or Linda Mwananchi. It is not in his place to tell us what they are going to discuss,” Wanjiru said.
Muturi, weighing in on the election results’ livestreaming debate, said Parliament is on denial after watering down the provision that would have ensured more transparency.
“What we are saying that all the votes at polling stations will be final,” Muturi said.
